Stretcher



Oct. 31, 1950 G. w. GILLELAND STRETCHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 1'7,1947 I '70 4 0 INVENTORL Grover 14/ izfle/fina x7 7' TOR/VEYS Oct 1950G. w. GILLELAND I 2,528,048

I STRETCHER Filed Feb. 17, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 if. i 1 3% 47 27 A Ii/5 IN VEN TOR.

fim er 14K (Wk/and i atented ct. 3i,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,528,048 's'rns'ronnrt Grover W. Gilleland,Tacoma, Wash.- Application February 17, 1947, Serial No. 729,161-

14 Claims.

This invention relates to a wheeled stretcher and an object of thisinvention is to provide a Wheeled stretcher having efficient means foran operating table, with the least possible discomfort to the patientand with a minimum of effort on the part of the person or personshandling the patient, it being relatively easy for one person, usingthis apparatus, to transfer apatient between the stretcher table andanother support. a In transferring a patient from a bed or operatingtable to a wheeled stretcher or from a wheeled stretcher to a bed oroperating table, it is common practice either to roll the patient fromone support onto the other or for two or more persons to insert theirarms under the patient and lift the patient from one support to another.The method of transfer by rolling from one support to another isobjectionable because thetwo supports are liable to be atdifferentelevations and the patient is liable to be roughly handled ingetting him from one support onto the other. The method of transfer bylifting necessitates supporting the body of the patient at spacedintervals and leaving the patients body free to bend and sag between thelocations at whichit is supported. Each of themethods of transfer abovedescribed is liable to subject the patient to needless discomfort andsuffering and .can result in serious injury to the patient.

It is an object of this invention to provide simple and efficient meansfor moving a patient betweenthe table of a wheeled stretcher and anothersupport, such as a-bed oropera'ting table, without bending or flexingany'part of the patients body and without subjecting any part of hisbody to excessive pressure.

Another object of this invention is to provide transfer means of thisnature which will obviate substantially all danger of dropping apatientin "transferring him to or from a wheeled stretcher.

Another object is to provide a wheeled stretcher having means associatedtherewith by which a patient can be very easily moved onto and off ofthe table of the stretcher without lifting the patient, it beingpossible for one or more persons who are not capable of lifting thepatient to easily 1 transfer him with this apparatus.

Another object of this invention is -to-=provide a wheeled stretcherprovided with a table and having transfer leaf means hingedto one edgeportion of said table and having means for mov- 2 ing a patient oversaid transfer leaf means onto and off of said stretcher table.

Another object of this invention is to provide a wheeled stretcherhaving patient transferring means including a flexible and anon-flexible transfer leaf hinged to one edge portion of the stretchertable and having-two pliable transfer members arranged to be moved inopposite directions across said table and said transfer lea-f means tomove a patient onto or off of said table.

The foregoing objects 'of this invention, together with others inherentin the same, are attained by the devices illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, throughout which like reference numerals indicate like parts.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wheeled stretcherconstructed in accordance with this invention showing the same alongsideof a hospital bed in a position in which it would be placed preparatoryto transferring a patient from the bed to the stretcher or from thestretcher to the bed;

Figure 2 is a plan view on a larger scale than Fig. 1 showing thestretcher in operative relation to the bed, a portion of the bed beingbroken away;

Figure 3 is a view in longitudinal section of a flexible top leaf memberillustrating the normal curvature of said top leaf member;

Figure'4 isa view of the bed andstretcher taken substantially on brokenline 4' 3 of Fig. 2 and showing by dot and dash lines a transfer canvasspread across the bed and stretcher in a position in which it can beplaced preparator to but showing both leaves of the stretcher supportedin an extended position;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the parts shown inrFig. 7, with aportion of the top leaf broken away and a leaf supporting member shownin a different position;

Figure 9 is a fragmentarysectional view, on a larger scale than Fig. 2and taken substantially on broken line 9 9 of Fig. 2 showing parts "ofFigure 12 is a sectional view taken substantially on broken line l2-l2of Fig. 11; and

Figure 13 is a fragmentary sectional View showing the outer edge portionof a non-flexible leaf member and showing shield means on the bottomside of said leaf member for shielding a pliable transfer member thatpasses under said leaf, the pliable transfer member being shown by fulllines in said Fig. 13.

In the drawings i3 is a stretcher table, 14 and I5 are two tubular framemembers supporting the respective edge portions of the table 13.

'IE and I"! are two transverse frame members extending between the framemembers I4 and 15. The frame members l4, i5, i6 and H cooperate to forma rectangular frame that is supported by upright leg members l8. Eachleg member I8 is provided with a caster type wheel i9. Preferably thetwo wheels H3 at one end of the stretcher frame are of a type that canbe locked against caster movement. Suitable truss members are providedbetween the several leg members [8. i

The table 13 and the frame members l4 and I5 are herein illustrated asbeing slightly longer than the usual hospital bed 2!. This providesmeans, such as the edge portions 22 of the table I3, which can abutagainst the two end frames 23 of the bed when the stretcher is in theposition shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Obviously the length of the table l3and frame members [4 and I5 can be varied within reasonable limits aslong as means are provided on the stretcher for abutting against asuitable portion of the bed frame.

Two leaf members or transfer leaves 24 and 25, which may be of anydesired width, are pivotally connected with one edge portion of thetable by common hinge means 28, (see Fig. 6).

The uppermost leaf member 24 is of relatively thin flexible material.The outermost edge portion of said flexible leaf member 24 isconcavoconvexly curved or bowed in longitudinal directions and has itsconvex side downwardly directed. When this flexible leaf member 24 is inuse, as shown in Fig. 4, and the leaf 25 is hanging vertically, then theconvex side of the flexible leaf 24 will rest on the mattress 21' or onthe bedding that covers said mattress, as hereinafter explained. 28indicates a bed spring carried by bed frame means 29 and supporting themattress 21.

I The leaf member 25 is substantially non-flexible and is wider than theflexible leaf member 24 and the outer edge portion of said non-flexibleleaf member 25 has a raised portion on the top side, as indicated at 30(see Fig. 6), so that when the top leaf member 24 rests on the bottomleaf member 25, see Fig. 5, a flush top surface will be presented.

The bottom leaf member 25 has a plurality of anti-friction rollers 3|rotatively mounted in its 4 outer edge portion, as in bearing brackets32 (see Fig. 2).

The edge portion of the table I 3 furthest from bed 21 is provided witha concavely bent portion 33, Fig. 10, within which anti-friction rollers34 are disposed. Bearing members 35, Fig. 2, rotatively support therollers 34.

The two leaf members 24 and 25 serve as means over which a patient canbe slidably moved between the table [3 and any other support, such as anoperating table or the bed 2 I The means for thus slidably moving apatient comprises two pliable transfer members 36 and 31. These pliabletransfer members are shown by dot and dash lines in Figs. 4, 5, 9 and10. Preferably these transfer members are made of strong and substantialcanvas or like material.

The pliable transfer member 36 is used for transferring a patient fromthe table 13 to another support, such as the bed 2|. Thispliabletransfer member 36, Fig. 9, extends through a slot 38 in the tubularframe member l4 and is secured to a winding roller 39 which is disposedwithin said tubular frame member 14. The winding roller 39 has a bearingmember 30 in each end thereof, see Figs. 11 and 12. Each bearing member40 extends outwardly through a radial slot 4| in a cap 42 on the endportion of the tubular member [4. Each bearing member 40 terminates inan outer end portion 43 that is suitably shaped so that a crank 44 canbe applied to the member 43 at either end of the roller 39 for turningthe roller 39. The slots 38 allow the roller 39 to float radially of thetube 14 and the pliable transfer member or canvas 36 that is secured toand wound on the roller 39 bears against the inside surface of the tube14 along a line indicated by numeral 45, Fig. 9. This makes it possibleto use a roller 39 of relatively light weight because the pull of thecanvas 36 is exerted directly against the tube l4. Thus the roller 39,which is ordinarily more than six feet long, does not need to be strongenough to withstand the bending strain exerted by the transfer member36. A shield 68, Fig. 13, is secured to the leaf member 25 in spacedrelation from the bottom side'thereof. Small rollers 69 are carried bysaid shield and positioned between the shield 68 and the leaf member 25.The transfer member 36 extends outwardly from the roller 39 between thebottom side of the transfer leaf 25 and the small rollers 69. The shield68 prevents the transfer member 36 from being pinched and frictionallybound between the transfer leaf 25 and the bed 2| or support upon whichthe shield rests. The outer edge of the shield 68 is preferably curvedtoward the antifriction rollers 35 and extends a short distance beyondsaid rollers 31 The shield 68 can be of any desired width'but does notneed to extend entirely to-the hinged edge of the leaf 25. The smallrollers-69 support the shield 68 and this shield can be made of lightthin material. At the same time these small rollers greatly reduce thefriction on the transfer member 36 and the shield 68 protects the bedcovers and mattress from abrasion. The outermost small rollers 69 arepositioned in opposed relation to the antifriction rollers 3|, so thatthe transfer member moves between two rolling surfaces at this point ofgreatest pressure.

When the transfer member 36 is to be used for transferring a patientfrom the table 13 onto a bed 2| or onto any other support both of thetransfer leaves 24 and 25 are raised and placed on the bed or othersupportps'e'e; Fig. The transfer member 36 is drawn around the. antifriction rollers 3| and back across the leaves 24 and and across orpartially across the table. l3. A patient, lying on the table i3, isrolled onto the transfer member 36, the crank 44 is applied to themember 43 at either end of the roller 39 and said roller 39 is rotatedto wind in the transfer member 36 and carry the patient easily andsmoothly across the table I3 and leaf members 24 and 25 and deliver himonto the bed 2 I.

In the use of the transfer member 36 the antifriction rollers 3| operatein the bight of said transfer member 36 and minimize friction at thislocation. The pull on'these rollers 3| is transmitted through the hingemeans 26 to the table l3. The roller 39 is mounted inthe tube l4 whichis a part of the stretcher frame. Thus all reactions, except thetendency to angularly move the leaves 24 and 25 are substantiallycounterbalanced within the structure of the stretcher. The forcestending to angularly move the transfer leaves 24 and 25 downwardly areexpended against the bed 21' or other support. Any forces which mighttend to angularly move the transfer leaves 24 and 25 upwardly are borneby two tie members 46 by which the leaves 24 and 25 are held down on thebed 21. The tie members 46 are fastened to the flexible transfer leaf 24near the outermost corners of said leaf '24- and are adapted tobeanchored to parts of the end frames 23 of the bed. The bottom transferleaf 25 preferably has notches 46, Figs. 2 and 6, to provide clearancefor the tie members 46.

The other transfer member 31 is used to transfer a patient from a bed 25or other support onto the strete'her ta-ble l3. This-transfer member 31,Fig. 10, passes through a slot 4'! into the tubular frame member i5 andis secured to a winding roller 48 similar to roller 39. The roller 48has bearing members 49 at eachend that extend outwardly through, and areguided in slots 50, Fig. l0, in end caps 5! of the tubular frame memberIS. The outer end portions of the bearing members 49 are suitably shapedto receive the crank 44' The slots 56 have their longer dimensionsextending generally in the line of pull of the transfer: member 31. Theroller 48 floats in the tube 45 and the-transfer member 3,! bearsagainst the wall of said tube l5 along a line indicated generally bynumeral 52. When the transfer member 3? is to be used to transfer apatient from a support, such as the bed 2! to the stretcher table E3,the flexible leaf member 24 is preferably placed on the bed and theother leaf member 25 is allowed to hang down as shown in Fig. l;Preferably the patient is placed on his side near the left edge of thebed, Fig. 4, with his back toward the stretcher. The transfer member 3.!is drawn around the antifriction rollers 34 and across the table 53 andleaf 24 and the edge portion of said transfer member is positioned onthe bedclose to the patient or may be pushed partially under thepatient. The patient is then rolled onto his back and onto the transfermember 3! after which thewinding roller 48 is rotatedin. the properdirection to move the patient across the flexible leaf member 24 ontothe stretcher table l3.

When the flexible leaf member 24 is drawn down onto a bed 2|, bytensioning the tie mem-- bers 46, the longitudinally curved edge portionofl said, flexible leaf 24- will bedrawn substantiallystraight and'willbe evenly depressed-into.

6. the mattress 21 throughout its entire. length, as shown in Fig. 4. Ifthe outer edge portion ofthis flexible. leaf 24- did not have thenatural curvature, as shown in Fig. 3, the medial portion of this edgewould tend to bow upwardly when ten sion is exerted on the tie members46 and it would be more difficult to move a patient onto this leaf 24and might be uncomfortable for the patient. This condition is obviatedby providing the curvature as illustrated in Fig. 3. 1

Prefer-ably diagonal tie members 53 (Figs. 1 and 4) have their upper endportions connected, as by brackets 54, with the upper portion of thestretcher frame near the outer side thereof. The lower end portions ofthe tie members 53 are connected, preferably by readily releasable snapor hook members 55- and clamps 56, with the lower portions of the endframes 23 of the bed. The diagonal tie members 53 hold the stretcherdown and prevent it from tilting when a pull is exerted on the transfermember 31 to move a patient onto the table 13.

Preferably the stretcher table [3 has a railing T6 provided along theouter side thereof as a safeguard against moving a patient too far inthat direction.

Means are provided for holding either the top transfer leaf 24 or bothof the transfer leaves 24v and 25 substantially horizontal. This makesit easier to position one. or both of said leaves on a bed' or othersupport. Preferably these means are in duplicate,. one at each end ofthe transfer table. One means that can be used for this purposecomprises a cam 51, Figs. 6; '7 and 8, secured to a rod 58 that isslidably and rotatively supported in a guide tube or member 59. Eachtube 59 is preferably secured to one of the transverse frame members. itor H. Each rod 58 has an operating handle 60 rigid therewith and extending. at right angles therefrom. Also each rod 58 preferably has a rigidcross pin 61 that operates in a bayonet slot in one of the tubes 59.Each. bayonet slot comprises a longitudinally extending portion 62. anda .circumferentially extending portion 63. Each cam 51 has a raisedportion 64- thereon that. registers with a notch 6-5 in the edge portionof the. leaf member 25. Atleast oneshoulder 66 is provided on the cam 51alongside of the raised portion 64. V

When the cams 51. and rods 58 are not in use: they are retracted into aposition as shown in Fig. 6. To use a cam 51 for holding both transferleaves 24 and 25in a horizontal position the op'-' erator manuallyraises both of said leaves then pushes the cam 51 and rod 58 outwardlyinto the position in which they are shown in Fig. 8 and then turns thecam .51 into the position shown inFig. '7. In thisv position shown inFig. '7, the shoulders 66 support the lower transfer leaf 25 directly,the upper leaf 24 rests on this lower leaf '25 and the'not'ch providesclearance for they raised portion 64 of the cam. If only the toptransfer leaf 24 is to be supported in a raised position then the othertransfer leaf 25 is left hanging'vertically, the leaf 24 is raised, thecam 51 is moved out past the edge of the leaf 25 and is then angularlymoved until the raised portion 64 of said cam is positioned under theleaf 24 and'supports the same. The cam 51- at either end of thestretcher can be used to support either the leaf 24 or both leaves 24and 25.

Preferably each pliable transfer member 36'" and 31 is slightly narrowerthan the transfer leaves 24 and 25. This makesit possible to passthe.transfer. member. 3.6? underneath: the leaf' 25'- aaaaoas.

and yet keep said transfer member clear of the cams 51.

Preferably two outwardly protruding bracket members 6'! are secured tothe stretcher in such a manner that they will overlap and be in closeproximity to the end frames 23 of the bed when the stretcher is properlypositioned for moving a patient between the stretcher and the bed. Thesebrackets thus serve to properly position the stretcher relative to thebed.

In moving a patient from a bed onto the stretcher table 13, the transfermember 3'! is drawn over the table I3 and leaf 24 and out onto the bed.Also the patient is moved onto the transfer member 31, usually byrolling him onto said member 3! as previously described, and thetransfer member 31 with the patient thereon is then wound on the roller48 until the patient is properly positioned on the table Hi. Thetransfer leaf 24 is flexible enough so that it will yield and conform,to a certain extent, to the shape of the body as the patient is beingmoved over the edge of said transfer leaf 2:2 and onto said leaf. Thisflexibility of the leaf 2 thus makes it easier to move a patient ontosaid leaf 24 and minimizes the danger of inflicting injury or causingdiscomfort to the patient in this transfer operation.

When the patient is to be transferred from the table l3 to some othersupport he is rolled onto the transfer member 36 and the roller 39 isrotated in the proper direction to move the patient off of the table 13and across the transfer leaves 24 and 25 and deliver the patient ontothe bed or other support.

It is to be noted that when my wheeled stretcher is used as hereinbeforedescribed, a patient is not rolled from a table onto a bed or from a bedonto a table with the possibility that the two supports may be at adifferent level and injury may result to the patient, but the patient ismerely rolled over on the level surface on which he is lying to get himonto a pliable transfer member after which he is carried on thetransfermember from one support to the other.

Obviously if desired a patient can be moved from a bed or like supportover both of the transfer leaves 2 3 and 25. When this is done thebenefits arising from the flexibility of the transfer leaf 25 aresacrificed. However, this mode of operation makes it possible to use thetransfer member 31 in overlapping relation as respects the transfermember 36. For instance the transfer member 36 can be spread across theleaves 24 and 25 and the transfer member 3'! with a patient thereon canbe slidably moved on'the transfer member 35 leaving the'patient restingon t e transfer table 13 with both transfer members under him. Then thepatient can be transferred off of the table by merely winding in thetransfer member 36. This obviates rolling the patient around on thestretcher table to get him onto the pliable transfer member 36. I 7

Obviously, changes can be made in the forms, dimensions and arrangementsof the parts of my invention, without departing from the principlesthereof, the above setting-forth only preferred forms of embodiments ofmy invention.

I claim: 1 w

1. A stretcher comprising a table adapted to support a patient in ahorizontal position; a transfer leaf hinged to one edge portion of saidtable and adapted to be positioned on a support substantially flush withand alongside of said table; a pliable transfer member movable versaidleaf and said table for transferring a patient between said table andsaid support; a longitudinally extending tube carried by said table andhaving a slot through which said pli-l able transfer member passes; aroller within said tube connected with said pliable transfer member forwinding of said pliable transfer member on said roller; and means forrotating said roller.

2. A stretcher comprising a table adapted to support a patient; atransfer leaf hinged to one edge. portion of said table and adapted tobe positioned on a support substantially flush with and alongside ofsaid table; a pliable transfer member movable over said leaf and saidtable for transferring a patient between said table and said support; alongitudinally extending tube carried by said table and having a slotthrough which said pliable transfer member passes; a roller within saidtube connected with said pliable transfer member for Winding saidpliable transfer member on said roller; radial slots in the end portionsof said tube; bearing members on said roller extending outwardly throughsaid slots and guided in said slots for radial movement of said rollerin said tube, whereby portions of the flexible member that are Wound onsaid roller will be caused to engage with and bear against the innersurface of said tube; and means for rotating said roller to Wind saidpliable transfer member thereon.

3. A stretcher comprising a table adapted to support a patient in ahorizontal position; a relatively thin flexible transfer leaf hinged toone edge portion of said table and adapted to have its free end portionpositioned on a sup- 1 port substantially flush with and alongside ofsaid table; a pliable transfer member having a free end portionpositioned on said transfer leaf and 'movable over said flexibletransfer leaf and onto said table for transferring a patient betweensaid support and said table; and means carried by said stretcher formoving said trans fer member onto said table.

. 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the outer edge portion of saidflexible leaf is curved concavo-convexly and has its convex side towardthe bed; and hold down means connected with each end portion of saidflexible leaf adjacent the outermost corner thereof to hold said leafdown on the bed with its normally curved outer edge substantiallystraight.

5. A stretcher comprising a table adapted to support a patient; atransfer leaf hinged to one edge portion of said table and adapted to bepositioned on a support substantially flush with and alongside of saidtable; anti-friction roller means rotatively mounted in the outer edgeportion of said transfer leaf; two pliable transfer members movableacross said table and said transfer leaf in opposite directions one ofsaid pliable transfer members being doubled and passed around saidanti-friction roller means at the outer edge portion of said transferleaf; and independent means carried by the stretcher for moving eachpliable transfer member. v

6. A stretcher comprising a table adapted to supporta patient; anon-flexible transfer leaf; a flexible transfer leaf; a common hingemeans connecting said two transfer leaves with one edge portion of saidtable for movement between a substantially vertical and a substantiallyhorizontal position, the flexible transfer leaf being uppermost when thetwo leaves are horizontal; two pliable transfer members movable acrosssaid table and said transfer leaves in opposite directions, one of saidtransfer members being doubled around the outer edge portion of saidnon-flexible transfer leaf; and independent means for moving eachtransfer member.

7. A stretcher comprising a table adapted to support a patient; anon-flexible transfer leaf; a flexible transfer leaf; a common hingemeans connecting said two transfer leaves with one edge portion of saidtable for movement between a substantially vertical and a substantiallyhorizontal position, the flexible transfer leaf being uppermost when thetwo leaves are horizontal; two pliable transfer members movable acrosssaid table and said transfer leaves in opposite directions, one of saidtransfer members being doubled around the outer edge portion of saidnon-flexible transfer leaf; anti-friction roller means carrying saidpliable transfer member around said outer edge portion of saidnon-flexible transfer leaf; a winding roller positioned under said tableadjacent said hinge means and connected with the pliable transfer memberthat passes around said anti-friction roller means; and another windingroller connected with the other pliable transfer member and positionedadjacent the edge of said table remote from said hinge means.

8. A stretcher comprising a table adapted to support a patient; atransfer leaf hinged to one edge portion of said table and adapted to bepositioned on a support substantially flush with and alongside of saidtable; anti-friction roller means rotatively mounted in the outer edgeportion of said transfer leaf; a pliable transfer member extendingacross said table and said transfer leaf and around said anti-frictionrollers; and a longitudinally extending winding roller positioned undersaid table adjacent the hinged edge of said transfer leaf, said pliabletransfer member being connected with said Winding roller, wherebyrotation of said winding roller will move said pliable transfer memberacross said transfer leaf and said table.

9. A stretcher comprising a table adapted to support a patient; atransfer leaf hinged to one edge portion of said table and adapted to bepositioned on a support substantially flush with and alongside of saidtable; a winding roller rotatively supported underneath said table;means for rotating said winding roller; anti-friction roller meansrotatively supported at the edge portion of said table opposite saidtransfer leaf; and a pliable transfer member secured to and wound onsaid winding roller and extending around said anti-friction roller meansand across said table and said transfer leaf.

10. A stretcher comprising a table adapted to support a patient; atransfer leaf hinged to one edge portion of said table and adapted to bepositioned on a support substantially flush with and alongside of saidtable; a winding roller rotatively supported underneath said table;means for rotating said winding roller; anti-friction roller meansrotatively supported at the outer edge portion of said leaf; a shieldcarried by said transfer leaf and spaced from the under side thereof andextending substantially from end to end of said leaf and from the outeredge of said leaf toward the hinged edge thereof; spacer rollerssupporting said shield in spaced relation from said leaf; and a pliabletransfer member wound on said windmg roller and passlng between saidspacer rollers and said leaf and adapted to extend around 10 saidanti-friction roller means and back across said leaf and said stretchertable.

11. A stretcher comprising a table adapted to support a patient in ahorizontal position; transfer leaf means hinged to one edge portion ofsaid table and adapted to have its free end portion positioned on asupport substantially flush with and alongside of said table; a pliabletransfer means having a free end portion positioned on said transferleaf and movable over said leaf means and onto said table fortransferring a patient between said support and said table; a secondpliable transfer means having a free end portion positioned on saidtable and movable over said table and over said leaf means and onto saidsupport for transferring a patient between said table and said support;and means carried by said stretcher for moving each of said transfermeans.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein the transfer leaf meanscomprises two independently operable transfer leaves, the lower one ofwhich is provided with anti-friction rollers at its free end portionover which one transfer means travels and the upper one comprises asuperposed and relatively thin flexible transfer leaf.

13. A stretcher comprising a table adapted to support a patient in ahorizontal position; transfer leaf means hinged to one portion of saidtable and adapted to have its free end portion positioned on a supportsubstantially flush with and alongside of said table; roller meanscarried by the free end portion of said transfer means for supportingthereon a travelling transfer means; a pliable transfer means mounted onsaid rollers and movable to transfer a patient between said table andsaid support; anti-friction means disposed below said transfer means toprevent friction-a1 contact between the transfer means and the support;and means carried by said stretcher for i moving said transfer meanstoward said suppor 14. A stretcher comprising a table adapted to supporta patient in a horizontal position; a transfer leaf hinged to one edgeportion of said table and adapted to have its free end portionpositioned on a support substantially flush with and alongside of saidtable; a pliable transfer member having a free end portion positioned onsaid transfer leaf and movable over said transfer leaf and onto saidtable for transferring a patient between said support and said table;and means carried by said stretcher for moving said transfer member ontosaid table.

GROVER W. GILLELAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

